You Choose, You Lose

A poem about losing.

Choice-less choices:

the illusion of having a choice

when in reality, the world makes the decision for you

 

Is it really a choice at all?

 

What happens when

you’re faced with a choice to

either follow your heart or to stay bound to ghosts?

These ghosts will continue to haunt you,

no matter how fast you run.

You will be found

always.

 

To make peace

with the ghosts of your past,

you must succumb 

to the torture

of the chase

and

the bidding of the ghost.

 

 

It is then

that you realize

there is no independence from your past

nor safety from your own ghosts.

Thus,

you must embrace

these choice-less choices

unless you want

to choose

and

lose

Author's Note

Could use some help solidifying aspects of this poem.

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

actually the repetition works here...at first i was wondering whether this poem was going to be relatable...but, absolutely...i found myself here...we have to come to terms with the ghosts...the first time it took me almost 20 years...and yes, maybe a part of me hides under the bed or in the closet, still.

But i learn to accept my emotional past as something to take with me going forward and hopefully something to make me stronger and smarter.

j.

[BeautifulHoliday]

Thank you for your comments! The "ghosts" image is a little overused and I'm not sure if it takes the readers off the path. I guess what I was thinking of was something I learned in class. During WW2, whether you were a Nazi or Jew, you really had a "choiceless choice." Although you technically had one (obey or die), the situation that individuals were in prevented them from having an option. The main subject of the poem in my eyes (or as I was intending) was manipulation.. I'm not sure if it came across but I'll have to look into it for the next edit